CHAPTER VII
Recommendations

The conclusion and findings of the survey justify our hypothesis that child labour in Nepal cannot be stopped in an abrupt manner. Determined, gradual and constant efforts are necessary to combat the child labour problem. Since socio-economic conditions reflected in mass poverty, ignorance and illiteracy are the major factors responsible for putting children to work instead of sending them to schools, abrupt stoppage through strict enforcement of law may create terrible implications and worsen the situation. Therefore, we recommend package efforts working simultaneously on labour law and effective enforcement, awareness building, workers' education, skill and vocational training, effective income generation activities including co-operatives, wage indexation and extension of real facilities, strengthening the nearby-schools and motivating the teachers there, mobilising the social workers in the area etc. In short, the major points of recommendations can be presented as follows:

1 The existing labour law does not take a full account of the problems of tea plantation workers. It is especially formulated keeping in view the industrial and factory workers. It is really insufficient to address the issues of and protect the rights of plantation and agricultural - rural workers. In addition to it, Labour offices have not been active and efficient to the desired extent for the effective enforcement of the provisions of existing labour law. Hence, it is highly desirable to formulate a separate labour law for tea plantation workers as in other countries. Similarly, there is a dire need for the creation of adequate mechanism so as to activate and make effective the Labour Department and Labour Offices in actual enforcement of the respective labour laws. Similarly, the gender based discriminatory practices have to be strictly eliminated through an active role of the Labour Offices.

2 Since the level of awareness and literacy status is very poor among the plantation workers, they are ignorant about what they should do for their children. Thus, in order to improve their living and economic conditions, a change in their social outlook is urgently needed. For the purpose, a training package on importance of child education, health and sanitation, family planning and on their rights and responsibilities are highly desirable.

3 On account of multiplicity of unions and inter-union rivalry, the tea-plantation workers are divided and have little bargaining strength. As a result, they are victimised and suppressed easily by the management and their genuine minimum demands have always been neglected. Hence effective workers' education to strengthen their unity and to build awareness towards effective trade union activities, trade union rights and responsibilities is an urgent need of the day.

4 The wage level of the tea plantation workers is very low. They had to struggle very hard for every wage increase in the past. It is necessary to establish a system for a periodic revision of wages and provision of dearness allowance to offset the effects of inflation. Further, in order to relieve them of the present miseries and hardships welfare facilities should be provided and the existing differences in the minimum wages fixed for workers in the enterprises and those in tea estates should be removed.

5 The life of a worker in tea gardens is characterised by unhealthy and poor living and working conditions, the lack of safe drinking water, the prevalence of danger from pesticides and other occupational diseases and the lack of safety measures. In order to change this situation, along with awareness building, training and education, income generation activities are extremely important. The idle family members should be provided with skill and vocational training, so that they can be self employed. Vocational training in bamboo works (mainly doko and other artistic goods), jute works (mainly namlo, carpets and ropes) will be effective. Similarly co-operative poultry farms and co-operative shops for daily consumption goods can be established. Besides, the management may offer finished tea at the dealers' rate to these workers for street sale during off time. Further, the management may help workers to set up co-operative shops.

6 A programme should be carried out to raise the awareness of people in the tea gardens about child rights. The programme should involve not only the children at work and workers families, but also the management.

7 The major focus of intervention against child labour should be the idle family members of the workers families under the age of 15. They form a pool of potential child labour. Even the children enrolled in schools are a source of child labour in tea estates as the parents are keen to settle them in a job as soon as one is available. Therefore, it is suggested that management of the tea estates should formulate a special programme for the children of working families. It should pay attention to their welfare and provide an education and a health care allowance to the families with children below 15 years of age.

8 The Government and social organisations should play a special role to raise the income level of the tea plantation workers. For the purpose, the assistance of ILO and other international organisations should be mobilised effectively.